Isbell v. Morris
Isbell v. Morris
Opinion of the Court
-This writ of error was prosecuted for the revision of a decree of the Circuit Court of Franklin, dismissing the bill at the cost of the complainant Isbell; in which decree there is charged to be error.
The object designed and effected by the bill was to obtain an injunction against a judgment at law, rendered against Isbell on a bond for .$200, executed by the complainant and Robert Thompson in favor of Morris, and by him assigned to S. Bell & Co, .the plaintiffs at law. The ground of relief relied on, was a failure of the consideration of the bond.
The hearing was had on the bill, answers and proofs, from which we assume as the only facts material to be noticed — that in March, 1824, articles of agreement were entered into by Thompson and Isbell of the one part, and Morris of the other, stipulating a contract, that the latter with the assistance of his'
The separate answer of Morris admits the contract as charged, but contests the failure of consideration —denies the intoxication, neglect or waste imputed to him, and contends that he performed his part .of of the contract, in taking charge of the house with the
Bell answers for himself and partners, that the transfer of the bond was in good faith, on the consideration and for the purposes avered bjr Morris, and that all except a small portion of said consideration was paid by them for the bond, prior to the alleged notice of the consideration having failed. He disclaims any particular knowledge of the failure and requires proof of the fact: he, also, in like manner with Morris insists on the benefit of the decision at law, in bar of relief sought in chancery.
The proofs on the part of label, the complainant, consist of the testimony of A. Twetty and wife, the latter of whom, as respects Morris’ situation and attention to the house during the few days he remained, goes far to sustain the allegations of the bill. Twetty himself no less sustains the allegations in these respects, and swears, moreover, that lie was present when Morris declined the employ ; that he did so voluntarily; and from a knowledge of his conduct while there thinks he was a disadvantage to his employers.
Under these circumstances was the complainant entitled to relief in chancery, or was the hill correctly dismissed? Morris’ services, during the short time while the engagement continued, resulting as they did in a disappointment to the complainant and Thompson, and subjecting them to the trouble and necessity of removing his family and effects from the place, and making a different arrangement (as his answer admits to have been the fact) can not be supposed to have produced a balance of profit to the employers. If, therefore, Morris had materially violated the con-, tract, or voluntarily abandoned it, he 'had no legal or equitable demand for compensation. If, on the contrary, he had complied with the agreement during the time, and was forced by the other parties to decline the situation, from the force of the contract, the services rendered, the inconvevience and disappointment produced, he was entitled to the full benefit of the contract, consequently to a recovery of the amount of the bon,d. The mutual stipulations of the parties, whether viewed as dependent or independent covenants, would be subject to the same rules. Nor is it material to decide whether the proofs sufficiently establish the fact, that Morris had so violated' the agreement on his part as to authorise the employers to rescind it, as alleged, in the bill, and denied in the answer. In either case it was a matter of proper legal cognizance. If complainant was warranted in rescinding the contract, he did what was requisite on his part in due time, by discontinuing the engagement,
Let the judgment be affirmed. .
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ISBELL versus MORRIS AND BELL & CO.
- Status
- Published